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Study of Jainism
Therefore, we should desire less. We should have least attachment with our possessions.
And Jñana (knowledge), S raddha (faith) and tapa (selfdescipline) are the pre-requisities of a righteous life.
Mahavira was against ritualistic formalities of tapas if the mind were not pure :
We have seen that one cannot become a S'ramana by shaving one's head, he will not become Brahmana by chanting 'Omkara' mantra. One will not be a muni by residing in the forest, not a tapasvi (ascetic) by external ascetic practices.
Samavāe samaño hoi bambhacêre a bambhapo I Nāņeņa muni hoi, taveņa hoi tavaso II
Uttaradhyayana : 25, 32
One becomes a Sramana by acquiring the spirit of equanimity, the practice of brahmacarya will make a brahmana, one can become a muni by knowledge and ascetic by purity of mind, self-discipline.
We have just mentioned glimpses of the fundamental teachings of Mahavira. We shall study the philosophical implications of the problems of Jaina thought in Part-II of this work.
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